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Chapter 13 ~ The - not-so- good things
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2024-10-18 14:00:59~~~~
Before I knew it, time flew by. By the end of my two-year stay in London, which was November 10, 2009, I had close to Twenty-Five thousand dollars sitting in my bank account.
Can you imagine the joy? And no, I didn’t spend a single dime of it! Who would’ve thought that the same Mary Johnson, who left Chicago in early 2007 with nothing to her name, would have that kind of money saved up?
"Well, Mary, good job," I said, giving myself a mental pat on the back.
With Rachael out of town for her studies, I became something of a new daughter in the Berry household. It was strange but also nice.
James and I grew closer, too—so much so that they even let me drive Rachael’s car. Now, don’t ask how I learned to drive. Trust me, you don’t want to know. Let’s just say, the less said about my early driving adventures, the better! But hey, I didn’t crash anything, so that’s a win, right?
Rachael wa
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Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 14 ~ Emptiness
~~~~“What is wrong with this a-hole?” I almost yelled out as I fired back at her. “Jesus, Rachael, keep your voice down! What the hell?” I glared at her, noting how the other patrons in the café were starting to take notice. “What are you trying to do, huh? Why don’t you just grab a microphone and announce my poor hygiene to the world? That would be better, you stupid—”“Mary, stop!” Rachael interjected, looking a bit taken aback. “Look, I understand what—”“Understand?” I cut her off, my anger bubbling over. “Please, Rachael, spare me the lectures. You come here with your fancy drinks and your glamorous life, and you expect me to just jump into that? I can’t afford to be carefree like you!” I retorted. “So believe me when I say you understand nothing about my situation.”“Oh, really?” She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. “Is that what you’re saying now?”“For Christ’s sake, Rachael, yes!” I turned to her, my voice rising. “Do you know what it feels like as a woman to bathe once
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-20Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 15 ~ Family struggle
~~~~Rachael was quiet for a moment, biting her lip in frustration. “Okay, I deserve that,” she muttered, just loud enough for me to hear.I halted and turned back to her, sarcasm dripping from my voice. "Oh, you think? I would never imagine."“Oh, damn it.” Rachael groaned in a completely unladylike way, grabbing my arms and forcing me to face her. “Listen to me, Mary. When I said those things, I didn’t mean them the way your stubborn head is probably interpreting them right now. It’s because I care about you. I know how hard you’re working for your family’s sake. I just want you to do something for yourself for once. That’s all.”I sighed, brushing a hand through my hair in frustration. Of course, I knew what she meant. I understood exactly what she was trying to tell me, but part of me just didn’t want to hear it.Not now, not when it felt like everything was undoing inside
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-20Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 16 - Papa’s surgery
~~~~~While I was still trying to figure out why the doctor suddenly cared about my personal details, the idiot opened his mouth and asked,"What school did you graduate from, if I may?"I’ve got to admit, that question threw me off balance for a second. Seriously?"No, you may not," I shot back, my patience running thin. "With all due respect, I don’t see how my educational background is any of your business, doc.""Oh, of course, it's not," he replied, clearly unaware of the anger in my voice. "It’s just that the way you're talking makes me think you must be a doctor—or at least a surgeon. Am I wrong?"Son of a... Did he really just go there?I took a deep breath, trying to keep my temper in check. Do you think I’d let your crappy hands near my father if that were true?"Let me get this straight," I said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "You think, if I were a doctor, I’d let an uncertain sur
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-22Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 17 ~ A New Trouble
~~~~The following week I was happy, but that happiness was short-lived.It’s true what they say: when one problem is solved, another one raises its ugly head.The following month was a nightmare, especially after Mr. and Mrs. Berry suddenly decided to sell their farmland and move to the Philippines for a fresh start. I was completely blindsided by this news; no one bothered to tell me about it.Of course, Rachael already knew. They were opening a new branch over there and placing the one here under new management.With their absence and support gone, I realized that someone like me—without any qualifications for restaurant work or any other work for that matter—would struggle to make ends meet.Rachael didn’t mention any of this to me. Was it forgetfulness? I had no idea.But by the time they finally decided to inform me, everything was already set. I knew it was time for me to move on.Out of love and kindness, Mr. and Mrs. Berry offered to take me with them. It was a generous oppor
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-25Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 18 ~ The New beginning
~~~~And I was right.I arrived in New York on a Sunday, but this time, I wasn’t in a rush to find a place or a job. I rented a little cottage for a month, just in case things went south again. The following Monday, I headed over to the restaurant address.As I walked in, I spotted the front clerk, a formidable woman with a no-nonsense look. She was typing furiously on her keyboard, and the moment I approached her, I took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.“Hi, I’m here for the job opening,” I said, trying to sound confident.Without even looking up, she waved me closer. “And you are…?”“Uh, just a hopeful candidate,” I replied, trying to maintain a casual tone.She finally looked at me, narrowed her eyes, and said, “Hopeful, huh? We’ll see about that.”Before I knew it, she had jumped out from behind her desk and took my hand like she was leading me to the gallows. “Come on! We don’t have all day!”“Wait! I thought I was supposed to interview or something?” I yelped, trying to pull ba
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-26Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 19 ~ Where Silence Ends
~~~~Ah! This junkie bitch.“Is this some kind of joke?” I spat angrily, marching to the door to flick on the light.“Seriously, can you not be a killjoy all the time, Madam Fussy Pants?” Clara shot back, wrapping the bed cover around her drugged-up, naked body.“Killjoy? You know what? Never mind. I will not take this crap anymore. You want to screw each other? Fine by me, but please do it somewhere else! You’re not the only one renting this place!” I snapped.“Then move out,” her half-naked boyfriend chimed in, lounging on the bed like he owned the place.“Yeah, much better. Why didn’t I think of that before?” Clara agreed with a smirk, her eyes glinting mischievously.I shot him a glare. “I wasn’t talking to you, asshole. So stay out of it.”“What did you just say to me?” he growled, rising from the bed with a menacing stride.I stood my ground, staring him down, refusing to be shaken. “You heard me.”“You slut…” he began, raising his hand as if to strike, but Clara intervened just
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-27Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 20 ~The Proposer
~~~~Halfway down the stairs, Clara's boyfriend and his gang were lounging, the air thick with smoke from some hard drugs. I hurried past, doing my best to ignore them, even when he called out, "Oh, you work on Saturdays now? How lovely."At his comment, I threw him the'middle finger salute' without even looking back and continued out of the complex. Their chuckles followed me, and I couldn't help but wish they'd all choke on their cigars.I arrived at the restaurant right on time—exactly 7:00 AM—and just as I predicted, the silver-haired lady was already seated with the manager. She looked younger than when I’d last seen her, and that threw me off for a moment.“There she is,” the manager declared as I approached. “I told you, she always keeps to time.” He turned to me, raising an eyebrow. “And she’s pissed.”I let out an exasperated sigh, trying to mask my annoyance. “No, I’m not. This is my usual face,” I lied, even though it was obvious to anyone who paid attention that I was more
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-27Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 21 ~ A Costly Deception
~~~ “You’re quiet?” Mrs. Black asked, her sharp eyes studying me closely.Of course, I was silent—how could anyone just respond to such a bombshell? I could tell she doubted me the moment I said I didn’t know her family.To her, that probably only confirmed her low opinion. She took another sip of her wine, seemingly unbothered by my shock. “Well, it’s fine. You don’t need to say anything. As long as you understand what I’m talking about, then that’s good enough.”I finally managed to clear the lump in my throat, forcing a polite smile. “Sorry, ma’am, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m finding it very difficult to understand your words. You want me to act as a wife for your son? I mean, it’s kind of funny, right? Wouldn’t it just be easier for him to get married?” I chuckled nervously.Her expression hardened, the politeness in her tone disappearing. “Don’t act smart with me, young lady. After all, if you were indeed smart, you wouldn’t be in the position where I found you.”The chill
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-10-30
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Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 103 ~ Between the Lines
~~~~We moved from the dining table, our fingers meshed together, silent but connected.The house felt quieter now that Nora had left, and maybe that’s why my heart beat louder. Every step toward the sofa felt heavier than it should have.Eric dropped onto the big white couch, casually leaning back like he had no idea my brain was in knots. I sat beside him and faced him fully.“I… I don’t really know how to say this,” I started, voice low. “But I was wondering… that piece of land you showed me the other day—does it still belong to me? Is the contract still valid?”His reaction was instant, but not what I expected.“Huh?” he muttered, staring at me with a strange, unreadable expression. His brows drew together slightly, but it wasn’t confusion—it was something else. Something darker.What the hell?That look alone made my stomach tighten. He’s
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 102 ~ Stirred, Not Settled
~~~~~~Eric collapsed onto the bed, breathing hard, his chest rising and falling like he’d just run a marathon. He dragged a hand through his hair, dazed and a little stunned. He had never—never—done something like this before.Not even back when he was single. Masturbation? That just hadn’t been his thing. He’d never needed it. But tonight? Tonight was different.Who would've guessed that giving someone else so much pleasure could leave him this breathless, this wrecked?He sighed, turning his head to glance at Mary—curled up beside him, flushed, glowing, looking like something out of a dream. And the way she moaned his name… the way she came undone beneath him like he was the only man in the world who could make her feel that way…“Damn,” he muttered under his breath.He wasn’t just drained—he was gone for her. Emoti
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 101 ~ Love knows no bound
~~~~Or so I thought.When I woke up the next morning, my entire body was sore—like every muscle was personally protesting the wild passion of the night before.“Ouch,” I winced, slowly turning my head to the side.There he was, Eric—sleeping peacefully beside me. He looked like an angel. Honestly, since we got married, this was the first time I had the chance to really just look at him while he slept. No business calls, no press, no drama—just him, wrapped in soft sheets and peace.I blushed, memories of last night flooding back in a rush of heat.Gently, I slipped out of bed and tiptoed into the bathroom like a mischievous teenager sneaking off after curfew.After a long, hot bath, I stood in front of the mirror and blinked. “Wow… that’s a lot of bite marks,” I muttered, lightly touching one on my collarbone. My skin looked flushed and... well-loved.Then I reali
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 100 ~ Mine to possess
~~~~Once she lowered herself onto him, Eric felt an overwhelming wave of heat and pleasure flood his senses. Mary began to move in a slow, deliberate rhythm, her hips rotating in a sensual dance that drove him to the edge of control.The soft strands of her golden hair brushed against his bare skin—gliding over his stomach and thighs like silk. Her presence above him was ethereal, radiant.At that moment, she looked like a golden rose blooming under a quiet spring night—delicate, powerful, and breathtakingly beautiful.“This… this is mine,” Eric thought, a foolish grin tugging at his lips before he could stop it. She noticed—of course she did—and smiled at him, as if savoring the power she held over him. She kept moving slowly, almost torturously so, and even though it frustrated him, he couldn't help but love every second of it.The hotness of her, the way her body held him so completely—it was almost too much. His desire only intensified, growing stronger with every subtle movemen
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 99 ~ Continuation
~~~~Eric carried me into the room, laying me gently on the bed. He kissed my forehead, as if trying to kiss away all my worries.“God! I miss you,” he whispered against my skin, his voice filled with emotion. I smiled softly, feeling everything between us begin to melt away.Even though I wasn’t saying anything aloud, my eyes spoke volumes. I pushed him gently onto the bed, feeling the heat between us burn.“Mary—” he started, his voice filled with desire."Shush," I whispered softly, calming him. "Let me take care of you," I said as I gently straddled him, planting soft kisses along his neck.I took off his shirt, savoring the closeness, as he let out a quiet sigh. My hands moved lower, but I paused, making sure he was comfortable. I continued with a gentle, affectionate stroke, and he moaned softly in response. But when I began to move further to unzip his pants, he halted me, gently grabbing my hand.
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 99 ~ A New Found Love
~~~~“Jeez,” I sighed loudly as I opened the bedroom door. I stood at the threshold, just observing the dark, empty space. No wonder Eric didn’t want to stay here. Honestly, I didn’t want to be here for even a moment.I couldn’t even remember the last time I slept here, not since the whole Diana mess. I walked in and went straight to the window. “This room needs light,” I whispered to myself, pushing the curtains open. “Ah! Fresh air,” I muttered as the cold wind greeted my face. I sighed again and stepped out onto the balcony.As I walked out, my mind started to drift. What’s going to happen to us now? I questioned. Denying the pregnancy doesn’t mean she isn’t pregnant. And then there’s this whole thing about our marriage—no matter what I tell myself, the marriage is still as fake as it could be.I turned to the room, resting my back on the metal. “I didn’t co
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 98 ~ Continuation
~~~~~Nora followed my gesture and then looked back at me with a half-smile. “You’re right,” she said before her expression darkened, and she glared at Eric. “I’ll leave the stubborn one to you,” she muttered under her breath and turned to head to the kitchen.I sighed and turned back to Eric. “You want to tell me what the problem is?” I asked, the words tasting bitter as they left my mouth.“Don’t know what you mean,” he replied, eyes still closed, like he was avoiding the question altogether.“Don’t play that game with me,” I snapped, my patience wearing thin. “I’m seriously not in the mood for it,” I said, my face cold. “What you did was dangerous, Eric. Putting your life at stake like that… How could you do something so stupid without even telling me about it? If your mother hadn’t told me what Diana did, I wouldn’t have even
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 98 ~ Things we do out of Love
~~~~When we finally got to the mansion, I felt his hesitation again. Like his body was here, but his mind was somewhere else. Still, I took his hand and didn’t give him the choice to pull back. We got out of the car together.Just as I was reaching for the front door, it swung open from the inside. Nora came rushing out, out of breath, panic written all over her face.“Oh my God,” she gasped the moment she saw Eric. “You look thin. Eric, why are you so stubborn?”Her voice cracked slightly—she wasn’t trying to scold him; she was just scared. And honestly, who could blame her?I let out a long breath. “Not here, Nora,” I said, calmly. “Let’s go inside first.”Because the last thing I needed was to be on someone’s Instagram feed by morning.“Okay,” she nodded and stepped aside.We followed her in.But once the door shut behind us, it
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 97 ~ My resolve
~~~~I turned to Carol, eyes narrowed like blades.“You want to tell me what the hell is going on right now?”She flinched, visibly rattled. “Ma’am... I-I don’t understand—”I didn’t wait for her to finish. My gaze snapped back to the glass.Inside, Eric sat on the sofa, flipping through a stack of documents with visible tension in his jaw. Beside him, the client—some woman with more chest than shame—leaned in so close she was practically sitting on his lap. Her breasts brushed his arm, again and again, while she smiled like she owned him.Eric didn’t look at her. Not once. But the way his shoulders stiffened, the way he clenched the papers—he hated it.She didn’t care.She leaned even closer.Pressed harder.Smiled wider.Behind me, Carol whispered a stunned, “Oh my...”I didn’t move. “That’s
